SB-0835: (Glazer): Parks Smoking Ban

This bill would make it an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $25 for a person to smoke, as defined, in a unit of the state park system or to dispose of used cigar or cigarette waste in a unit of the state park system. The bill would establish a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), representing over 5,000 California pediatricians, strongly supports the proposed legislation SB 835 (Glazer). This bill would ban smoking in state parks, except in certain areas designated by the director of the park.

Tobacco and secondhand tobacco smoke are highly hazardous to the health of anyone and especially to children. As stated in American Academy of Pediatrics policy, “There is no safe level of tobacco smoke exposure. The developing brains of children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the development of tobacco and nicotine dependence.”

SB 835 (Glazer) would make sure that children who frequent state parks are not exposed to secondhand smoke or inadvertently encouraged to use tobacco by seeing adults doing the same. A reduction in littered cigarettes would also potentially reduce wildfires in state parks, thus improving air quality and benefiting children who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Pediatrician members of AAP California Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 statewide urge you to vote AYE on SB 835 (Glazer). Thank you for your public service and leadership on behalf of the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families in California.

Sincerely,

Lauren Gambill, M.D., Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
State Government Affairs Committee, American Academy of Pediatrics, California

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